The Minnesota Golden Gophers won’t play North Dakota State despite the program’s move to the FBS, but the Gophers will gladly snatch recruits from the Bison’s home base in Fargo-Moorhead.
Minnesota officially received a commitment from Moorhead wide receiver David Mack for the 2027 recruiting class. That marks the second Gophers commitment from Moorhead, with running back Taye Reich being the first.
“I’m home! All the Glory to God!!” Mack wrote via X on Tuesday. “After [a] great visit and conversation with [head coach P.J. Fleck], I’m extremely blessed and proud to say I am COMMITTING to the University of Minnesota!”
The Gophers have offered Moorhead quarterback Jett Feeney, the son of former Bison quarterback Kevin Feeney, who coaches Moorhead. Together, they all helped the Spuds reach the Class 6A state championship game in 2025.
Mack, a 6-foot-7 and 175-pound wideout, had 121 catches for 1,607 yards and 26 touchdowns last year. He also has offers from Colorado State, Kansas, and South Dakota State. Reich had offers from Kansas State, CSU, and North Dakota.
“After a ton of thought and prayer, I feel like God has made it very clear to me that Minnesota is the place I need to be,” Mack told Gopher Illustrated.
“Head coach P.J. Fleck, receivers coach Isaac Fruechte, and the whole staff are just great people. The facilities are the best of the best, and the same with their education. They have a great football program, and they check all the boxes outside of football, too,” Mack continued.
NDSU Has Benefitted From Moorhead Stars Before
While NDSU hadn’t offered Mack, the Bison do recruit Moorhead players often. That said, there’s only one player on the Bison roster for Moorhead at the time, offensive tackle Austin Schultz.
Previous Bison football players from Moorhead include running back Chase Morlock, a star of the 2016 team, and the elder Feeney, who played for the Bison in the late 1990s. Jett Feeney has been offered the Bison, too.
Landing Mack wasn’t the first time the Gophers have successfully taken a big-time player from NDSU’s backyard. The Gophers did it in 2023 when top North Dakota prep recruit West Fargo Sheyenne standout Karter Menz signed to play defensive lineman. That’s despite NDSU offering him a scholarship.
Bison Have a History of Grabbing Minnesota Talent
There is a history of NDSU luring talent from Minnesota both in the Division II and FCS days, which only increased during the Bison dynasty between 2011 and 2025.
Notable players include some who have made it to the NFL such as defensive back Marcus Williams, primarily for the New York Jets, and former Minnesota Vikings and Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Ben Ellefson. Others include Billy Turner, an offensive lineman who mostly played for the Denver Broncos and Green Bay Packers, and running back John Crockett, who also played for the Packers.
Minnesota natives who also made a big mark with the Bison include linebacker Grant Olson, defensive end Cole Jirik, and defensive tackle Leevon Perry. Many of the aforementioned players helped Bison pound the Gophers 37-24 in 211.
NDSU has a 2-1 record against the Gophers since 2006 but five previous losses in the 1930s.
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